Sprinkler-head



W. l.- TURNER.

SPRINKLER HEAD.

APPUCATION FILED DEC.20| 19H.

-1 ,314,1 69. Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

I A 4 r 4 J4 7 I 3 7 I /6- a5 (6 r 33 4 Y 5g 3 V3 v 9 A? 37 INVENTOR Wl/ivm cl 771/9710.

Wilkes): B J W1 ATTORNEYS WILLIAM J. TURNER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SPRINKLER-HEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

,Application filed December 20, 1917. Serial No. 208,000.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM J. TURNER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Sprinkler-Head, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic sprinkler heads for use in fire prevention systems.

An object of my invention is to provide a sprinkler head for automatically releasing a flow of water when the temperature in the vicinity of the head passes a fixed point.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sprinkler head in which the releasing structure is not rendered less sensitive by corrosive action, accumulations of dust and dirt, and disuse through a long period of years.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sprinkler head in which the collapse of the valve-holding means occurs with a snap which throws the holding members clear of the head frame.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sprinkler head highly resistant to mechanical injury.

The invention possesses other features of advantage, some of which. with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may dopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the sprinkler head of my invention. The figure is drawn to an enlarged scale in order to show the structure more clearly, and portions are shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing a modified form of my invention. a

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view on a large scale, of a portion of the device.

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of portions of the structure of the sprinkler hfiadr v a Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the sprinkler head shown in Fig. 2.

The sprinkler head of my invention comprises a frame 2 of well-known form provided with a nipple 3 wherewith the head is attached to the water supply pipe. At the opposite end of the frame a deflector 4 of the usual type is secured by a screw 6 integral therewith and which passes through a boss 7 forming the end of the frame. The

screw 6 terminates in a blunt conical point 8 lying in the longitudinal axis A-B of the sprinkler.

In the base of the frame adjacent the nip plc is a valve nozzle 9 upon which is seated a valve cap 12. Preferably a thin diaphragm or plate 13 of silver or comparable material i interposed between the valve cap and the nozzle end, so that the two will not become united by corrosion. The valve cap is formed with a curved. top which terminates in a blunt conical point 14 lying in the axis A-B of the. sprinkler. The rounded form of the valve cap is to prevent any possible catching of the members of the releasing means when the sprinkler opens.

Means are disposed between the two points 8 and 14 for retaining the valve cap 12 upon its seat under the water pressure existing in the sprinkler feed pipes. This means is arranged to collapse suddenly to release the valve cap, its parts being snapped clear of the frame, when the temperature in the neighborhood of the head rises above a predetermined point, usually 160 Fahrenheit.

The means for holding the valve cap tightly upon its seat consists of a triangularly-formed, three-piece strut, the members of which are held in normal operative position by means of solder so disposed between two of the members that a relatively larger bulk of solder and metal is disposed at a certain point than between said two members generally, so that when the temperature rises to the danger point, this larger mass of solder and metal is the last to fuse, resulting in the collapse of the strut with great 100 suddenness. thus avoiding any possibilityof water cooling the solder and. consequent sticking and jamming of the solder-con nected parts,

Referring first to Figs. 1, 4 and 5. The

strut comprises a vertical compression memher or post 16 lying in the axis of the sprinkler and provided with an integral arm 17 extending from the post preferably at about verse displacement of the post from its seat gagement with is'prevented. One end of the lever 18' is provided with a socket in which the conical point 14: of the valve cap is seated and the other end 19, of which is disposed in enthe arm 17. Preferably the end 19 is turned at an angle to. the main body so that it makes a surface contact with the under side of the, arm 17 and extends outwardly toward the; hooked end 21 of the arm. As seen in Fig. 1, the seat in the upper side ofthe lever 18,,in which the post 16 rest-s, is offset-to the rightof the axial line A B, in which the point 14 of the valve cap bears upon the under side of the lever,

so th at the pressure of the cap- 12 in the axial line toward the point 8 tends to throw the end .19. of the lever 18. downwardly, swinging about the point 14 as a pivot; and thismovement of the lever 18 is necessarily accompanied by a swinging of the post 16' to the right, and a corresponding upward movementof the arm.17,, about thepoint 8 as a pivot; e

Means are provided for still further reducing the leverage ultimatelyto be exerted upon the, soldered oint, and for securing-the lever 18 inoperative pOSltlOIl, A latch lever 22 isdisposed upon the outside of lever 1 with the lever 18, and to turn upwardly be- 18, its upper end 23 being bent to conform tween the end of that lever and the hook 21.

The extreme ends of the levers 18 and 22are preferably given rounded edges 24 and 25 respectively, which bear in correspondingl -y- 1: formed sockets in the lever 22- and hook 2,1

respective]v so that inthe collapse ofthe parts, the-ends of the levers roll easily out of contact. The ends of the two levers 18-and 22v are of spatulate form so as to provide a broad surface contact with the under side, of

the arm 17 which is similarly formed. Between the ends of the levers and the armf17.

' I interposea thin plate 26, of silver or comparable material to prevent theluniting of 1 these partsby corrosion. A web of material is left. on-the sides of the hook 21 to prevent lateral displacement of the end of'the latch lever 22.." V

Means are provided for holding the lower end of the latch lever securely against the lever 18. It will be observed that owing to the widely different lengtlis'of the several lever arms formed, a very small restraining force at the lower end of lever 22 will hold a very large force tending to unseat the valve cap. Approximately midway between the ends, the lever 18 is widened as best shown in Fig. 4, and from this widened portion a wing or'tab 27 is raised at an angle of 90 to the main body of the lever. The lever 22, Fig; 5, is similarly widened to coincide with the widened portion of the lever 18 and a tab or wing 28 stamped out of the end and turned outwardly at right angles to the body of the lever at the head of the recess 29. The wings 27 and 28 are so placed that when the levers are assembled as shown in Fig; 1,

the wings lie in contact with each other, the

wing 27 projecting upwardly through the recess 29. Each of the wings 27 and 28 is provided with a hole, 31 and 32 respectively, and when the levers are assembled the two holes are in alinement.

In assembling the strut members, the con- 7 tiguous faces of the levers 18 and 22 are first soldered together with solder having the desired fusing temperature and a mass of sol der 33 disposed about the two wings 27 and 28 and through the alined holes 31 and 32.

The'solder thus not only cohesively unites the two levers for the entire length of the" shorter one but at the end of the long lever arm of the shorter lever (said long lever arm extending downwardly from a point adjacent the rounded end 24 ofthelever 18),

forms a mechanical lock tending to prevent the separation of the levers, since such separation would necessarily shear off the solder pin extending through the holes 31'and32'. It will also be noted that the mass of metal accumulated about the wings will 'be some what slower to fuse than the solder lying between the. two levers above this point;

that is, when the fusing temperature is V reached, the solder between the levers above 7 the wings will first soften, so that when the larger mass is finally affected an instant later, the lever latch lets go'quite suddenly.

This is a highly important feature and ef-' feetually eliminates all danger of sticking or amming of the parts, so often the result of a.- sluggish collapse. After the union of the two levers,they are assembled with the other strut member 16-17 and inserted in position between the points 14: and 8. The screw 6' is then tightened by turning the deflector so thatsufficient pressure is exerted to effectively hold the valve cap upon its seat againstthe water pressure in the feed pipes of the system. Preferably a locking pin 34 is riveted through screw 6 and boss 7 to prevent accidental loosening of the parts.

In case of fire in the vicinity of the sprinkler head, the solder between the levers 18 and 22 first melts and then the large mass fuses. At the instant of fusing, the stress tending to separate the levers causes lever 22 to swing downwardly and outwardly, pivotingabout its end 1n the hook 21. This releases both the lever 18 and the remaining strut member 16-17 which are thrown out, as previously explained, allowin the water pressure to unseat the valve cap 12 and a stream of water to impinge upon the deflector.

The triangular form of the strut insures an open space between members which are to separate in operation. When members in a sprinkler, lying close to each other, are undisturbed for a long period, corrosion almost always causes a union of the adjacent orcontiguous surfaces sufficient to impair if not wholly destroy the sensitiveness of the device. The large space left between the members in my sprinkler head effectually prevents such corrosive union. It should also be noted that in all parts of the sprinkler there is a metal-to-metal contact which renders the strut highly resistant to mechanical injury or deformation. Especially is this true of stresses produced by accidental blows upon the top of the lever 17. It is important that a sprinkler shall be so constructed that any mechanical injury will leave obvious effects, and not so bind or jam parts that the sprinkler will be inoperative, although apparently in good condition. The

triangular form of my strut, together with the described relationship of the three parts, provides a structure which satisfactorily meets the requirements just indicated.

In the sprinkler head shown in Fig. 52, both structure and operation are the same in all respects as that just explained, except that a different means is used for securing the end of the long lever arm of the outer member 36. The lever 37 which corresponds to lever 18 of the Fig. 1 construction has an aperture 38 adjacent the end of the lever 36. In this aperture a key 39 is disposed. The key is roughly in the form of the letter T with a portion 41 of the shank bent so as to lie over the end of the lever 36. The cross bar of the key bears upon the surface of the lever 37 on both sides of the aperture. In assembling, the key is set against the upper edge of the aperture, the bent shank 41 in contact with and presenting an inclined edge to the edge of the lever 36. Solder is then flowed between the contiguous surfaces of the levers 36 and 37 and a mass of solder 42 is disposed around the end of the lever 36, the key and through the aperture 38.

When the temperature of the parts is raised to the fusing point of the solder, the solder between the lever faces first melts and this is followed by the fusing of the larger mass, thus permitting the key 39 to be crowded down by the outward pressure of the end of the lever 36 on its slantlng face. This results in an almost instantaneous release of the lever 36 and the resultant collapse of the strut and release of water from the nozzle.

I claim;

1. In an automatic sprinkler, a valve cap, a lever bearing on said cap, a post supported at one of its ends on the axial line of the sprinkler and bearing at its other end on the saidlever to one side of the axial line, an arm extending from said post into engagement with said lever, a latch lever interposed between the ends of said arm and said firstnamed lever, said levers and said arms being of spatulate form at their contacting ends, and a fusible solder forming a cohesive and mechanical lock between sald levers.

2. In an automatic sprinkler, a valve cap, a lever bearing on said cap, a post supported at one of its ends on the axial line of the sprinkler and bearing at its other end on the said lever to one side of the axial line, an arm extending from said post past the end of said lever, a latch lever interposed between the ends of said arm and said firstnamed lever, a non-corrosive plate interposed between said arm and said levers, and a fusible solder formin a cohesive and mechanical lock between said levers.

3. In an automatic sprinkler, a valve cap, a lever bearing on said cap, a post supported at one of its ends on the axial line of the sprinkler and bearing at its other end on the said massed solder forming a solder pin therethrough.

5. In an automatic sprinkler, a valve cap, a lever bearing on said cap, a post supported at one of its ends on the axial line of the sprinkler and bearing at its other end on the said lever to one side of the axial line, an arm extending from said post past the end of said lever, a.latch lever interposed between the ends of said arm and said firstnamed lever, a wing on said first-named lover, a wing on said latch lever in contact with said first-named wing, said wings being formed with alined apertures therein, and a fusible solder pin disposed in said apertures.

6. In an automatic sprinkler, a valve cap, a lever bearing on said cap, a post supported at one of its ends on the axial line of the sprinkler and hearing at its other end on said lever to one side of the axial line, an extending from said post past the end of said lever, a Wing projecting from said lever, a latch lever interposed between the ends of said arm and said first-named lever and extending longitudinally along the latter, a

Wing on said latch lever adjacent to said first Wing, and a fusible solder massed about said Wings. y

7. In an automatic sprinkler, a valve cap, a lever bearing on said cap, a post supported atone of its ends on the axial line of the sprinkler and bearing at its other end on said lever to one side oftheaxial line, an

arm extending from said post past the end of said lever, a Wing projecting from said lever, a latch lever interposed between the ends of said arm and said first-named lever and -ex-- tending longitudinally along the latter, a

Wing on said latch lever adjacent to said WILLIAM J. TURNER.

In presence of- C; S; EVANS. 7

copies 0! this patent may be obtained for fivecents each, by addressing the Commissioner of I'atents,

'Washington, D. 0. 

